Mirror
"US military base in Syria under missile and drone attack with fears of casualties"
Story by Sean McPolin
22 APRIL 2024
At least five rockets have been launched from Iraq towards a US Base in Syria, with explosions heard in the area and fears of casualties.
Sources in the area have described how explosions were heard in the vicinity of the American military base in Al-Omar field, which is east of Deir Ezzor.
It comes after tension last week between Iran and Israel which saw the former send a "retaliation" attack of drones and missiles late at night.
Sama TV journalist Mohammed Dabaa took to X, formerly Twitter, to say: "Local sources confirm that there were direct casualties in the vehicle hangars within the American occupation base in Kharab al-Jir, after they were targeted by 5 projectiles, including missiles and a drone, amid an American security alert in the base and its surroundings."
It's also believed a second missile attack has occurred in Deir Ez-Sor, with the Syrian Democratic Forces, near the Al-Omar oil field in Khadra, East Deir Ez-Zor, being the main target.
Footage has been circulated on Telegram of the attack targeting the Kharab al-Jir base in the Hasakah countryside from the Iraqi territory.
It is the first attack against US forces since February when troops were being attacked by Iranian-backed groups in Iraq.
It comes on the day Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani returned from the United States where he met President Joe Biden at the White House, the Sun reports.
Security sources evaluating the situation have detailed how a rocket launched was found on the back of a small truck and parked up in Zummar, a town which borders Syria.
The military official said the truck caught fire with an explosion from unfired rockets at the same time missiles and drones were sent into the sky.
Following this an Iraqi Security Media Cell confirmed a car where "several missiles were launched from" had been found.
An attack comes days after a military base in Iraq, which was holding a pro-Iranian militia, was damaged in an explosion and killed one person and wounded eight others.
Iraq's military reported no drones or fighter jets in the area before or during the blast.
However, the militia organization involved, the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), was blamed for the attack which came after heightened tensions between Israel and Iran.
The PMF is an umbrella organization that contains several militias which are part of the network of proxies that Tehran has been able to use to advance its interests across the Middle East for years.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... 7382&ei=39
THE MIDDLE EAST
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
Al Jazeera
"Yemen’s Houthis launch attacks on US, Israeli vessels as warships defend"
25 APRIL 2024
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi armed group says it attacked US and Israeli vessels, with a Western coalition of warships defending amid the continuing fallout from the war on Gaza.
Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesman, said in a video address late on Wednesday that the Houthis hit the Maersk Yorktown cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden.
The US military confirmed that the Houthis launched an antiship ballistic missile from their territory towards the vessel, which it identified as a “US-flagged, owned, and operated vessel with 18 US and four Greek crew members”.
“There were no injuries or damage reported by US, coalition, or commercial ships,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
The Greek Ministry of National Defence said on Thursday that one of the country’s military ships serving in the European Union’s naval mission to counter the Houthis in the Red Sea intercepted two drones launched towards a commercial ship from Yemen.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had earlier confirmed an incident some 72 nautical miles (133km) southeast of the port of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden.
Saree said the group targeted the Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean and launched projectiles at a US warship.
The US military said within two hours of the attack on the Maersk Yorktown, its forces “successfully engaged and destroyed” four drones over Yemen.
“These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels,” it said.
The Houthis, who support the Palestinian armed group Hamas, have been launching attacks on vessels in waters near their shores since November in a stated claim to stop Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
The group gradually expanded its attacks from Israeli-linked ships to US and UK-owned commercial vessels and warships as Washington mobilised a maritime coalition to defend against the attacks, and along with the British military targeted Yemeni soil with numerous air raids.
According to the US Maritime Administration, in addition to seizing a commercial vessel in November and sinking a UK-owned ship in March, the Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping since November.
The Houthi strikes have reduced in frequency in recent months as the group appears to have exhausted its stockpiles of missiles and drones after dozens of attacks while suffering from US and UK air raids.
The previous attacks claimed by the group came on April 10, when it said it hit three US and Israeli-linked ships, along with a US warship.
The Houthi attacks have forced many vessels to opt against passing through the Red Sea to use the Suez Canal, instead going around Southern Africa, which makes their journeys weeks longer and more expensive.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ye ... 0009&ei=20
"Yemen’s Houthis launch attacks on US, Israeli vessels as warships defend"
25 APRIL 2024
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi armed group says it attacked US and Israeli vessels, with a Western coalition of warships defending amid the continuing fallout from the war on Gaza.
Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesman, said in a video address late on Wednesday that the Houthis hit the Maersk Yorktown cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden.
The US military confirmed that the Houthis launched an antiship ballistic missile from their territory towards the vessel, which it identified as a “US-flagged, owned, and operated vessel with 18 US and four Greek crew members”.
“There were no injuries or damage reported by US, coalition, or commercial ships,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
The Greek Ministry of National Defence said on Thursday that one of the country’s military ships serving in the European Union’s naval mission to counter the Houthis in the Red Sea intercepted two drones launched towards a commercial ship from Yemen.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had earlier confirmed an incident some 72 nautical miles (133km) southeast of the port of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden.
Saree said the group targeted the Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean and launched projectiles at a US warship.
The US military said within two hours of the attack on the Maersk Yorktown, its forces “successfully engaged and destroyed” four drones over Yemen.
“These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels,” it said.
The Houthis, who support the Palestinian armed group Hamas, have been launching attacks on vessels in waters near their shores since November in a stated claim to stop Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
The group gradually expanded its attacks from Israeli-linked ships to US and UK-owned commercial vessels and warships as Washington mobilised a maritime coalition to defend against the attacks, and along with the British military targeted Yemeni soil with numerous air raids.
According to the US Maritime Administration, in addition to seizing a commercial vessel in November and sinking a UK-owned ship in March, the Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping since November.
The Houthi strikes have reduced in frequency in recent months as the group appears to have exhausted its stockpiles of missiles and drones after dozens of attacks while suffering from US and UK air raids.
The previous attacks claimed by the group came on April 10, when it said it hit three US and Israeli-linked ships, along with a US warship.
The Houthi attacks have forced many vessels to opt against passing through the Red Sea to use the Suez Canal, instead going around Southern Africa, which makes their journeys weeks longer and more expensive.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ye ... 0009&ei=20
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
The Jerusalem Post
"Fires rage in northern Israel after Hezbollah barrage from Lebanon"
Story by ELI ASHKENAZI
11 MAY 2024
Following several heavy barrages from Lebanon on Friday afternoon, fires erupted in Northern Israel, according to Israeli media.
The heavy rocket barrages caused the fire, which is still raging at this hour, with the arrival of Shabbat.
Firefighters have not yet brought the blaze under control.
The fire broke out mainly in the wooded area and in the dry vegetation on a high ridge.
Due to the heat and dryness that prevailed today, the fire ignited quickly and spread.
Extinguishing the fire during these hours is particularly difficult due to the mountainous terrain's darkness and route.
The abundant vegetation that grows during the rainy winter adds to the high risk of fires following the fall of rockets or interceptor parts.
A week ago, Walla reported on the concern raised by the standby unit in Kibbutz Yaraon about the expected fires and the difficulty of dealing with them because the firefighters do not have permission to reach the fence's settlements.
The Kiryat Shmona municipality spokeswoman updated this evening that five alarms were activated in the city before Shabbat after dozens of rockets were fired at the city.
"At this stage, we know of several hits in the city."
"Much damage was caused to property and infrastructure, as well as vehicles."
"No injuries have been reported."
"The instructions for the residents of Kiryat Shmona who remained in the city are to stay in shelters and protected areas until further notice."
IDF targets Hezbollah in southern Lebanon
In response to the damage, the IDF struck Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon.
Fighter jets destroyed five military buildings alongside another military position used by Hezbollah, from which launches were made to the north of the country.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/fi ... b9e2&ei=35
"Fires rage in northern Israel after Hezbollah barrage from Lebanon"
Story by ELI ASHKENAZI
11 MAY 2024
Following several heavy barrages from Lebanon on Friday afternoon, fires erupted in Northern Israel, according to Israeli media.
The heavy rocket barrages caused the fire, which is still raging at this hour, with the arrival of Shabbat.
Firefighters have not yet brought the blaze under control.
The fire broke out mainly in the wooded area and in the dry vegetation on a high ridge.
Due to the heat and dryness that prevailed today, the fire ignited quickly and spread.
Extinguishing the fire during these hours is particularly difficult due to the mountainous terrain's darkness and route.
The abundant vegetation that grows during the rainy winter adds to the high risk of fires following the fall of rockets or interceptor parts.
A week ago, Walla reported on the concern raised by the standby unit in Kibbutz Yaraon about the expected fires and the difficulty of dealing with them because the firefighters do not have permission to reach the fence's settlements.
The Kiryat Shmona municipality spokeswoman updated this evening that five alarms were activated in the city before Shabbat after dozens of rockets were fired at the city.
"At this stage, we know of several hits in the city."
"Much damage was caused to property and infrastructure, as well as vehicles."
"No injuries have been reported."
"The instructions for the residents of Kiryat Shmona who remained in the city are to stay in shelters and protected areas until further notice."
IDF targets Hezbollah in southern Lebanon
In response to the damage, the IDF struck Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon.
Fighter jets destroyed five military buildings alongside another military position used by Hezbollah, from which launches were made to the north of the country.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/fi ... b9e2&ei=35